By year's end, Mercury will fade. But despite its reputation as a tarted-up Ford, Mercury still managed to field some unique models over 71 years. Let's ride. 1939 Mercury 8 $750-$3,000 For their debut, Mercury cars wore styling that captured elements of Ford and Lincoln. Power came from a 95-horsepower flathead Ford V8. Unlike Fords, Mercurys featured hydraulic brakes, an important safety advance long opposed by Henry Ford. More than 60,000 were sold that first year.

All he saw was a flash of yellow. And in an instant, the man with whom Eugene Pratchett had spent countless dark nights tediously filling potholes was gone. Christopher Jenkins' yellow construction vest was lying on the ground in a pool of red. A car had slammed into Jenkins in a construction zone on Interstate Highway 80 in northwest Indiana with such force that Jenkins had flown through the windshield and onto the front seat, police said. Pratchett...

Ford confirmed at the Chicago Auto Show that it will add a Mercury Montego version of the Ford Five Hundred sedan that will be built in Chicago for the '05 model year. And officials said another Mercury sedan will be added to the lineup in two years. That led to speculation that perhaps the Ford 427 concept sedan that the automaker is considering for '06 might be joined by a Mercury version. "We haven't even had any discussion about that," said Chris Theodore, vice president of...

The most popular cars among first-time buyers are mostly compact sedans and coupes--the majority being imported models--yet domestic companies are making an effort to attract this market with offerings such as the Ford Focus, the Pontiac Vibe and the Dodge SRT-4. Here's what young people are buying, according to J.D. Power and Associates: Make and Model Percentage Honda Prelude 26.0 Hyundai Tiburon 25.8 Mercury Cougar 22.0 Ford Focus 21.5 Acura Integra 21.1 ...

Q. My wife and I have a disagreement over the computerized nature of 1999-2001 cars. We experienced major repairs on our 1990 Ford Taurus involving chips and their cables. My wife maintains that Hondas and Toyotas are far less computerized than American cars and therefore less prone to expensive repairs. We really do not care who is right or wrong. J.A., Chicago A. How refreshing it is to hear that right and wrong don't matter in an argument between spouses. That's good because...

Rita Reichart, 53, of the 1900 block of Camp McDonald Road, Mt. Prospect, was charged Saturday with unlawful use of a weapon after a traffic stop at Golf and New Wilke Roads, police said. Police said they saw a stun gun in the glove compartment of her 1988 Mercury Cougar as Reichart removed her proof of insurance. Reichart was released on recognizance and is to appear in court Jan. 9, police said.

- Ford Motor Co. is offering $1,500 cash back to Ford Super Coupe and Mercury Cougar purchasers. Ford hadn`t previously offered incentives on those models. The company is adding the incentives in an attempt to boost sales.

Two tires each were reported slashed Sunday on three cars parked in a driveway in the 600 block of North Lewis Avenue. The three cars are a 1980 Pontiac Grand Prix, a 1988 Mercury Cougar and a 1997 Honda Civic, according to police reports.

Two tires each were reported slashed Sunday on three cars parked in a driveway in the 600 block of North Lewis Avenue. The three cars are a 1980 Pontiac Grand Prix, a 1988 Mercury Cougar and a 1997 Honda Civic, according to police reports.

Aurora police on Sunday were asking for help tracking down a car and its driver in connection with a hit-and-run accident that killed a woman who apparently was trying to cross a busy street, police said. Susan R. Clementz, 39, of Aurora was hit about 10:30 p.m. Saturday as she tried to cross Farnsworth Avenue near Molitor Road. Witnesses told police that an unidentified person in a light-colored Mercury Cougar hit Clementz and sped off without stopping, police said. Clementz...